Baltimore Could See Daily Record Low Temperature During Tonight’s Freeze Warning

Unless you’ve been sitting next to a space heater or wood stove every hour of this week, you probably already noticed cold weather season has arrived. If forecasters are right, tonight’s low temperature for Baltimore could go down in the record books.

Today’s forecast includes a brisk low temperature of 23 degrees. That’s one degree less than the lowest recorded low from Nov. 10, 2003, according to National Weather Service records.

The Baltimore area (and most of Maryland) will be under a freeze warning from 7 p.m. tonight until 10 a.m. tomorrow. The warning marks the first freeze of the season. Officials have vegetation on the mind, with a directive to “take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”

More importantly, though, Code Blue season is almost upon us. The city declares a Code Blue alert whenever temperatures, including wind chill, are expected to reach 13 degrees or lower, or when the health commissioner otherwise deems it fit. If Code Blue is in effect, the city opens up hundreds of new beds in publicly affiliated shelters and asks private shelters to extend their hours, among other steps.

A Health Department spokesperson said there aren’t any plans to call a Code Blue warning tonight.

Last year’s first Code Blue alert came in mid-December. We may still be a few weeks away from that tipping point. However, even if tonight’s cold temps don’t call for an official alert, Baltimoreans should keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbors, be it by offering them some warmth or connecting them with a local shelter. Here’s a list of options: https://human-services.baltimorecity.gov/homeless-services/shelter-resources.

Ethan has been editing and reporting for Baltimore Fishbowl since fall of 2016. His previous stops include Fox 45, CQ Researcher and Connection Newspapers in Northern Virginia. His freelance writing has been featured in Baltimore City Paper, Leafly, DCist and BmoreArt, among other outlets. He enjoys basketball, humid Mid-Atlantic summers and story tips.